Mechanism for shifting sheets



April 25, 1933- H. G. BUCHAN 1,905,437

MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING SHEETS Filed Nov. 18 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 25, 1933. H. BUCHAN 1,905,437

MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING SHEETS Filed Nov. 18 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIDE April 25, 1933- I H. G. BUCHAN MECHANISM FOR SHIFTING SHEETS Filed Nov. 18 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED sures HUG-H Gr. BUCHAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA MECHANISM: FOR SHIF'IIN G SHEETS Applicationfiled November 18, 1931. Serial .No. 575,723.;

This invention relates to a mechanism and method for shifting loose sheets.

At the present time, it has been the com mon practice to keep visible index records in Tengwell binders which have a set of curved prongs upon each cover member. In View of the fact that the record sheets often become obsolete, they have to be removed from the binder. More or less difficulty has heretofore existed in the removal of such obsolete sheets. It was necessary to open the binder at the right spot and then shift the sheets in front of the obsolete sheet to the adjacent side of the binder which then had to be opened so that theobsolete sheet could be removed. It will be appreciated that where many obsolete sheets occur, this involves a great deal of painstaking effort.

According to this invention, it is proposed to use straight impaling posts upon'one binder cover with a holding and compression strip having straight prongs positioned over the top of the record sheets and to use a curved prong shifter for separating the sheets when it is desired to removethe obsolete sheets.

The invention comprises the novel method and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which il-j lustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views: Flgure 1 1s an interior plan View of a Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line VV of Fig 7 ure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating in dotted lines'the prongs as they are swungover when it is desired to remove obsolete sheets. 4

Figure 6 is an enlarged [sectional view taken on thaline VIVI of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sec.- Y tional view taken upon the line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the sheet shifter. l 7 V In accordance with this invention; there is illustrated an expansible binder consisting of two sections. One section .embodies an angular back. member 1 which slidingly cooperates with an angular back memberi2 of the other section. Suitable telescoping guide posts 4 at the ends of the back members serve to guide the same in their expanding and contracting movements. The usual cover members 3 are hinged to the upper edges of the angular back membersl and 2 as is usual in the art. The angular back section 1 sup- 7 0 ports a plurality of straight impaling posts 5 as shown inFigures5 and 6 for retaining overlapping visible index sheets .6. A comef pression' strip 7 (Figure l).provided with straight in'ipaling posts 8 is adaptedto be. 'ap-' plied to the top of the sheets for maintaining V thesheets in position in the binder and proventing their escape from the impaling posts 5. l 7

When it isdesire d to remove obsolete rec 9;

ord'sheets, the binder is opened as shown in Figure l and the upper compression strip 7 is removed from 'the top of the sheets and is laid aside. The'sheetshifter involvingthis invention is then inserted in theback of the binder as illustrated in Figure 2. The shifter which is clearly shown in Figurev 8 consists of a base-portion 9 having an upwardly and inwardly inclined flange, 10 along I one longitudinal edge and having an angular rest 11 extending along the opposite margin. A post plate 12 is hinged to the base 9 and carries a plurality of curved prongs 13. Upon the end of the base, there are retaining clips 14. When this sheet shifter is positioned in the back portion of the binder as shown in Figure 2, the clips 14 will take over the guide posts 4 and the angular rest 11 will engage over the lower edge or border of the cover member 3 as shown in Figure 5. With reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the prongs 13 are so spaced that they registerwith apertures in the record sheets.

After the sheet shifter has been inserted in the binder, the record sheets 6 maybe trans ferred thereon by simplylifting the same and swinging the same over to the left handcover:

member. As these sheets are swung over, they will automatically engage the prongs 13 on the shifter and retain their proper positions. The operator will continue to manually transfer the sheets to the shifter as shown in Figure 3 until an obsolete sheet is encountered. Assuming thatthe sheetfia as shown in Figures 3 and 4 is an obsolete sheet which it is desired to remove, the operator willswing the impaling prongs13 to the left as shown in Figure 450 that the sheet 6a may be readily removed. Thereafter the prongs- 13may be swung back into their shifting po sitions and the operator will continue to transfer the sheets thereon until another obmoving obsolete sheets from a visible index" binder whereby the relative positions of the sheets are, always maintained without any special care or effort. It will be further appreciated that the novel form of sheet shifter which provides this noveloperation may be used in connection'withany number of binders of-proper design one after the other. It will'also'be appreciated that the difficult and tedious operation heretofore required. in connection with the Tengwell binders is avoided. V

Iam aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction. may be varied through a wide range WlllllOllt departing from the principles of this invention, I therefore do notpurpose limiting thepatent' granted hereon otherwise than necessitatedby the appended claims.

Ijclaim as my invention:

11. A,sheet shifter for use in a binder havingguide posts comprising a base portion having downwardly'proj'ecting resilient clips for engaging said guide posts, a strip hinged to said base and hook-like prongs attached to said strip.

2. A sheet shifter for use in an expansible binder having telescopic guide posts, a base member adapted to fit in said binder and rest upon said guide posts, said base member having means engaging said guide posts, a strip hinged to said base member, and hook-like prongs upon said strip.

3. A sheet shifter comprising a base portion having an angular member extending along one edge, and having downwardly extending stop members, a strip hinged to said base portion and curved-prongs on said strip.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribedmyname at? Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

' HUGH G. BUOHAN. 

